Zingers #89 - Curtains

Did you know that you can wash the plastic liner behind your shower curtain.  After washing it in the machine with a few towels, rehang the curtain.  You know not to put it in the dryer.  Most mildew and spots on the curtain will be gone.  If not, an investment of less than $10 to buy a new liner will be well worth the money.  Boy can those curtains stink!

Why save $10 to lose a $289,000 sale?

Zingers #88 - This isn’t Kansas any more

Have you heard of Toto plumbing fixtures?  Are you selling in an up market and want your bathroom to stand out among the competition?  Look for the Japanese bathroom fixture brand Toto.  They are enormously popular in high end homes and motels. It may be a case of “Snobism” but

A Toto may give you a Royal Flush

Zingers #87 - Six litres of water

Not every low-flow toilet is able to handle waste.  If you have to replace one of the water guzzling old toilets that actually functioned and wonder what will work, look for a dual flow tank, talk to the sales people and/or go on the internet to find evaluations of toilets using 6 litres that will leave you …… 

Flushed with Success.

Zingers #86 - Bathroom carpeting

Is there carpeting in your bathroom?  Look at replacing it with tiles.  A bathroom is not large.  Tiling will take a bit of time in the confined space but the tiles will not cost a fortune.  Buyers want to see clean, hygenic flooring. If it is already tiled, clean the grout and replace tiles that are broken or chipped.

Are you floored?

Zingers #85 - Toilet tank and seat cover

What?  If you have them and use them, store them away until after you move.  I know that in summer the tank “sweats” but during the sale just towel off the humidity.  If the toilet seat is covered, buyers will think “granny decorating” and wonder what else has not been updated. 

Don’t flush away your move.

Zingers #84 - Towel dry

Buyers have aversions to other people’s bathrooms.  It may be a perception of germs or just our current phobias.  In any case, if you want your bathrooms to look extra clean, hang fluffy white towels before every showing.  New towels add a clean sanitary-looking touch.

Towel dry your sale.

Zingers #83 - Black sheep of the family

Did your teenager, the black sheep in the family, insist on black/navy blue/blood red/forest green walls in his bedroom?  These walls are going to require three or more coats of primer and paint just so you or the buyer will not see the colour bleed through.  Start painting those walls now. 

Baa, Baa Black Sheep, have you any white?

Zingers #82 - Kitchen clean-up

Are you going to paint the kitchen?  Most of us have been using the kitchen for cooking which means grease.  Even the best fans cannot pull out 100% of the air borne grease.  Before painting, clean the walls and cupboards with a solution of TSP (Trisodium phosphate).  This will cut the grease before putting on a base coat and then the colour.

Try Sprucing with Paint

Zingers #81 - Flat or eggshell?

What level of gloss should your paint be?  Flat paint is good for new builds with no flaws in the walls (watch out for nail pops).  Eggshell or very low glass is going to be the best choice for most walls.  If you are painting trim, look for a semi-gloss.  It is good for wiping off fingerprints and for the contrast between the trim and the walls.

Paint the town red (after your sale).

Zingers #80 - Benny and C2

Thinking of painting before selling or after buying?  Benjamin Moore paint is worth the extra few dollars.  You will have a nice finish and you will not have to paint several coats to cover the previous colours.  I also recommend C2 paint at Randall’s. There is a difference when using quality paint.

Colour your house sold.

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